Category: Books

In nurseries and schools up and down the country today, children will be celebrating and learning about Chinese New Year in lots of fun and exciting ways. With just two little ones aged just 16 and 19 months however, we kept it simple with this fab Peppa Pig Chinese New Year book. Because, if there’s one thing all my mindees love it’s Peppa Pig!

It is such a shame that this is the case but I completely see why. Working parents work long days. I am a Mum of just one and don’t have a long commute either side of my day which affords me quality time to spend with my son reading, which, quite frankly, if I worked elsewhere I would be pushed to get given his 7pm bedtime.

Although I know my mindees all have literary rich environments at home, it reinforces the need for us as early years carers to ensure all children in our care, whatever their age, have access to age appropriate reading material.

Our village pre-school is excellent at reading to the children and fostering a love of books in children too.

Whilst stocking up on new craft supplies in Poundland the other week, I came across this fantastic Very Hungry Caterpillar ‘Create a Scene’ sticker book which the children have really been enjoying.

It’s an A3 laminated picture scene and comes with lots of lovely colourful vinyl stickers to create your very own Very Hungry Caterpillar and Friends action scene. The stickers are reusable so the children can change the scene again and again. There are lots of stickers including sunflowers, a cow, a horse, a ladybird, a duck, a bee, a butterfly, a spider, a sunshine and of course a caterpillar!

I first sat down to do it with one of my 2 year old mindees and we had a lovely time as she sat and placed all the stickers in her chosen place and called out all the animals, insects and plants.

“We’ve got TWO caterpillars!” she exclaimed and then – “I love these stickers”

She sounded out the animal sounds as she placed each sticker down – “Moo”, “Neigh”, “Quack”

“Wheres the pond?” she asked me as she laid down the duck sticker.

We have also been enjoying the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle which is a lovely story and great for counting. They have also been using their fine motor skills and enjoyed creating collages by gluing and sticking with some great Very Hungry Caterpillar picture cut outs which really help bring the book to life and they’ve learnt new words such as “cocoon”

Next year I hope to do one of these fantastic ‘Caterpillar kits’ from Insectlore which would be such a lovely activity.

The children have been enjoying the lovely ‘Owl Babies’ by Author Martin Waddell recently. Owl babies is a lovely tale of three baby owls who wake up one morning to find that their mother has gone. They sit on a branch and wait wondering when their mother will return. It’s a charming, reassuring book for any child who has ever worried about Mummy leaving them alone and the beautiful illustration seems to really capture their imagination.

To extend their interest in Owls, we have made some fab Owls in our Arts and Crafts sessions and enjoyed sticking with some cute Owl stickers. We’ve read more Owl related books including “Wow! said the Owl”. I still have some lovely Owl drawings an older ex mindee did which I just love.